SANGRO BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 3

SANGRO BATTLE

VICTORIOUS EIGHTH ARMY ASSAULT report by general freyberg NEW ZEALAND DIVISION’S PART. HARD FIGHTING AHEAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) • WELLINGTON, This Day. “The battle of Sangro is an important step forward, but the enemy is still fighting back hard, and 1 must warn the New Zealand Government that heavy fighting lies ahead before the enemy is driven north of Borne,” states a dispatch from Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir Bernard Freyburg, dealing with the initial operations undertaken by the Second New Zealand Division in Italy, which has been received bv the Government.

General Freyberg's dispatch, which was released yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, states that conditions were hard but everyone was in excellent spirits. He was glad to report that in spite of strong' enemy resistance our losses to date had not been unduly heavy. The dispatch states. “The Second New Zealand Division rejoined the Eighth Army in November, and has just taken part in the offensive which forced a crossing of the Sangro and broke through the enemy s winter line. In conditions completely different from those we were used to in North Africa, your division carried out a most difficult operation in a way which showed that the veterans of the desert and men who had not seen action before have become a well-bal-anced fighting formation, excellently equipped and trained for this campaign in Europe. SOME HEAVY GOING. “The preliminary fighting in the advance to the Sangro River was carried out across difficult country in very bad weather by an Indian brigade under our command, supported by New Zealand tanks and artillery. Fighting rearguard actions to which the German army is now well accustomeds the division contested each river valley division contested each river valley and hilltop village through which the Italian roads wend their way. “Not only had the enemy rearguards to be dislodged, but demolitions on a grand scale had to be bridged; in some places vehicles were winched through one by one till firm ground was reached. Trucks' slipped and got bogged in a sea of mud, and at times it seemed impossible that such a large mass of transport would be cleared. Neither the weather nor the enemy rearguard, however, stopped the advance, and our whole force with all its tianspoit, tanks, and guns was brought forward over the narrow mountain roads. “The enemy resistance stiffened at the approaches to the Sangro River, British and Indian Infantry of the Indian Infantry Brigade, supported by tanks of our 19th Armoured Regiment and by our artillery, carried out a most gallant attack. They crossed the upper reaches of the river and captured the high ground from which the enemy had been able to observe our movements and bring down artillery fire. RAIN DELAYS ASSAULT. “South of the Sangro River our Fifth and Sixth Infantry Brigades, under Brigadiers Kippenberger and Parkinson, deployed for the'next phase in the battle. Then heavy rain fell again, brought the river to flood level, and delayed our attack. Quite apart from the weather, the operation was most difficult as the wide river bed is dominated by all the heights of the north shore. The plan was to carry out a night attack and the troops were waiting ready for the river to fall. “On November 26 the weather improved. Battle exchanges opened along the Eighth Army front on the night of the 27th, with the New Zealand Division on the left flank. Moving forward in pitch dark, our infantry crossed the river with the aid of ropes, formed up on the north bank at two in the morning, and assaulted the heights. This attack by the Fifth and Sixth Brigades, under an artillery barrage on a front of 6000 yards was brilliantly carried out. The enemy was driven from all our objectives, leaving many dead and over 300 prisoners behind.

“In the river bed itself, the engineers worked all night and next day under intense shell fire, making tracks through and building bridges to get supporting arms and tanks across to secure the bridgehead. Till the bridges were completed only a few tanks could be got across owing to mud and quicksands, but before the enemy recovered from the initial surprise artillery was brought forward and the infantry again-advanced. ASTRIDE THE ENEMY LINE. “A daylight infantry attack on high ground took the enemy by surprise and Castelfrentano was occupied. By the capture of this hill town on the highest ridge overlooking the Sangro River both the sth and 6th Brigades established themselves astride Kesselring's much-vaunted winter line. . “There can be no doubt that the enemy intended to hold his defensive system covering the line of the River Sangro. It was very strong, consisting of deep reinforced trenches and dugouts and complete communication trench system and electrically lit living quarters, and the whole system was covered by extensive minefields and barbed wire. The men who stormed it would look back with satisfaction from this fortress of hills and skilfully-plan-ned defences and realise what they had achieved. “While the New Zealand Division collected along the high ground, other formations advanced on the coastal sector. Supported by powerful Allied air forces, the Eighth Army broke through the German line on a wide front.” MONTGOMERY’S PRAISE. General Freyberg quoted the following letter he had received from the Eighth Army commander, General Montgomery, referring to the part played by the New Zealand Division in the battle:— “I would like to congratulate the New Zealand Division on the splendid achievement of the last few days. Since the division came into the battle line

of . the Eighth Army after a long absence it has been faced with forces of Nature and by a determined enemy in strongly-prepared positions. The division has dealt with the forces of Nature and with the enemy in a manner that is beyond all praise. ‘The part played by New Zealand troops in the battle of Sangro should make all those in the home country very proud of their soldiers serving in Italy. Please tell your officers and men how pleased I am with what they have done. Further tasks lie ahead, but having smashed through the enemy s winter line we arc now well placed to tackle the enemy in the open. Good luck to you all.” General Freyberg stated that he was writing this account in his office truck in the forward area, waiting for the bombardment of another attack to begin. “The moon is full. It is a cold, overcast winter night,” he added.